Towns set to host festive fun

Motherwell and Bellshill are preparing to welcome the festive season with Christmas light switch-on events next week.

Bellshill is first up, with the town hosting its ceremony on Thursday, November 20.

It will kick off at 3.30pm and feature Edwardneezer Scrooge, a production written especially for Town Centre Activities’ Christmas lights switch on, and featuring Britain’s Got Talent contestant Edward Reid.

He will be joined on stage by Bellshill’s very own singer and performer Lisa McKechnie

A first of its kind for the switch on events, the mini pantomime tells the story of Scrooge with a local, North Lanarkshire twist.

There will also be ‘Elfie the Selfie’ too!

The unique station has a board featuring a family of elves with spaces for you to pop your head through for a photo to be taken against a background of North Lanarkshire landmarks made out of candy canes.

Motherwell’s switch on will take place on Sunday, November 23 between 1.30 and 4pm.

The event will feature performances from X Factor finalist Nicholas McDonald and Scottish boy band Rewind, as well as a real reindeer parade.

As well as the festivities for the big switch on, the town will host an ice skating rink on Saturday and Sunday, November, 22 and 23.

The 10m x 10m synthetic ice rink, which will be outside Wetherspoons on Merry Street, will be available from 10am until 6pm on the Saturday, and from 11am until 5pm on the Sunday.

Skates will be provided and there’s even penguin skate aids for small or infirm skaters.